Rabbits and Chickens Management
Primary 4 · Science and Elementary Technology
Rabbits and Chickens Management
Lesson 4 of 5
20 min
Let's begin
Keza's hen has stopped laying. She sits in her nest all day, puffs up her feathers and clucks crossly when anyone comes near. "She is broody," says Keza's mother. "She wants to hatch chicks."
Chickens are omnivores. A good diet has:
| Food group | Examples | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Energy foods | maize, maize bran, sorghum | give energy |
| Body-building foods (protein) | soya bean, fish meal (dried small fish), termites, worms | build the body and make eggs |
| Minerals | crushed shells, limestone | make strong bones and strong eggshells |
| Vitamins | fresh green leaves, vegetable peelings | keep the birds healthy |
| Water | clean water, every day | chickens drink a lot; without water, hens lay fewer eggs |
Shops sell ready-mixed feeds: chick mash for young chicks, grower mash for growing birds, layer mash for laying hens and broiler feed for broilers.
If you give hens eggshells for minerals, crush them into tiny pieces first, so the hens do not learn to peck and eat their own eggs.
Never feed chickens: avocado (it is poisonous to birds), mouldy food, or very salty food.
Tip
Three weeks, 21 days, from egg to chick
Good chicken feed = Energy + Protein + Minerals + Vitamins + Water.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
About how many days does a hen sit on her eggs before they hatch?
Answer: About 21 days (three weeks).
Can an egg from a hen that has never been with a cock hatch?
Answer: No. It is good to eat, but it cannot hatch.
Why do farmers give laying hens crushed shells or limestone?
Answer: They contain minerals that make strong eggshells.
Habimana wants to throw avocado skins to his hens. What should he do?
Answer: Not give them. Avocado is poisonous to birds.
Which part of the egg is food for the growing chick?
Answer: The yolk.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The exercises (Try it yourself and the practice questions) are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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